Mushroom Mardi Gras in Morgan Hill

A balloon gateway to the Mushroom Mardi Gras.

Cinderella booth for little and big girls.

Stuffed animals as pillows.

A local band gets a gig.

A good venue to promote the local wineries.

People and dog are enjoying the food.

Walking a cat in a street fair? What were they thinking?

In 1979 the volunteers in Gilroy, CA set up a non-profit organization to put on an annual Garlic Festival in July. It was an instant hit and Gilroy became known as the Garlic Capital of the United States. This organization had raised millions for local schools and non-profit organizations.

In 1980 the volunteers in Morgan Hill, 12 miles north of Gilroy, set up another non-profit Mushroom Mardi Gras to run a festival during the Memorial Day weekend each year. Somehow the Mushroom is not as romantic as Garlic; it has never been as well known or as successful as the Garlic Festival but nonetheless still raised funds for scholarships in local school.

The Mushroom Mardi Gras is now an admission-free street fair with lots of food, demo and commercial booths. It's fun for the locals and the visitors alike.